











V,** :M 



4 o 
A *^> ♦ „ „ o ° <$* 










5°* 



» ^ 








&mJ&*-' 4 o 














"V * o . o ° ^ 






***** 



* jftti 



& 



V 



^ 



^ :Mmi ^ 



/% 






V 



I** 



i^> 



V 



--* 










,* v 






^d< 



iV 



^5°^ 

r o 







<<6 



PITTSFIELD 

THE GEM CITY OF 

BERKSHIRE 












printed for the 

Berkshire Life Insurance Company 

pittsfield, massachusetts 






LIBRARY of 30NGR£bS 
I wo Copies rtecwveo 

MAY 29 1905 

r Gogyngni tnir> 
AJLaSS <2- XXc. No; 



COPY B. ' 



i 



«LJLieij>. 



Copyright, 1905. 



^rv^nr; 



Sun Printing Company, 
pittsfield. mass. 



PITTSFIELD .. 




he object of this booklet is to assist the 

T visitor — the stranger — to a ready famil- 

iarity with Pittsfield, its environments, its 
points of interest and some of the inter- 
esting facts of its history. Pittsfield's 
fame is widespread and the term "Gem 
City" by which it is known, is most fitting- 
ly applied. Few cities are more beautifully 
located, few can boast of such charming 
surroundings, few are more delightful in 
all ways. The city's first claim to distinction arises 
from its natural beauty, a beauty which has been vastly 
enhanced by its inhabitants. But it has a sure claim 
to prominence by reason of .its thrift and industry, and, 
as a manufacturing center, it is progressing steadily 
and surely. 

One very notable thing about Pittsfield is the fact 
that while it is a manufacturing town in the real sense, 
yet its industries are entirely unobtrusive, being lo- 
cated on the outskirts of the city where they detract 
nothing from the charm of the place. The city possesses 
many advantages as a place of manufacture, and its 
railroad facilities are of the best. As a place of resi- 
dence it is unsurpassed, possessing as it does the ad- 
vantages of the modern municipality coupled with all 
the delights of the country. It has fine schools, an 
excellent system of government, the most modern sys- 
tem of sewage disposal, an almost unlimited supply of 
the purest drinking water, a thoroughly capable fire 

( 5 ) 



department, a police department which has given it the 
reputation of being one of the most orderly cities in the 
country, and in fact, all the concomitants of the ideal 
modern city. 



HISTORICAL ... 



The history of Pittsfield, by the late J. E. A. 
Smith, tells in detail the very interesting story of the 
settlement and growth of the town. It fixes the first 
settlement in 1743, a grant of land having been made 
by the General Court, to John Stoddard. The original 
settlers, from the vicinity of Westfield, came to the 
wilderness which is now Pittsfield, in 1743 and be- 
gan the task of clearing the forest. The unsettled 
condition of the country discouraged these pioneers 
and the attempt at a settlement was abandoned before 
a single permanent dwelling had been erected. The 
attempt was renewed in 1746 with more or less enthu- 
siasm, but it was not until 1752 that a real settlement 
was established under the title of "The Plantation of 
Pontoosuck." The place was incorporated the following 
year by the General Court, the charter being issued to 
"The Proprietors of the Settlement Lots in the Town- 
ship of Pontoosuck." The first dwellings were erected 
in the east part of the town where today may be seen 
the grave of Sarah Deming, the first white woman who 
came to Pittsfield. The grave is marked by a marble 
obelisk erected by the town of Pittsfield and the in- 
scription states that Mrs. Deming was the mother of 
the first white child born in Pittsfield. In 1761, the 

(6) 




BERKSHIRE SAVINGS HANK BUILDING 



name of the settlement was changed to Pittsfield, for 
William Pitt, the English statesman, who, as the his- 
torian puts it, "by his vigorous conduct of the war 
against France, had made himself the idol of all parties 
in New England" ; and was incorporated as a town. 
For many years its career was perilous because of the 
Indian allies of France, who harrassed the settlements 
continuously. But the pioneers were not to be daunted 
and, it is to be presumed, had conceived a fondness for 
the beautiful region where they had made their homes. 
They met the perils which surrounded them with brav- 
ery and refused to be driven from their Eden. The 
history of the town from that on is similar to that of 
many New England settlements. Pittsfield continued 
to grow and prosper and the natural beauty of the 
region attracted new settlers year after year. The 
townspeople responded nobly to the call of the country 
during the Revolution, the war of 1812, the Mexican 
war, the great Civil war and the Spanish-American 
war, and its record in these contests is a proud one. 
The town form of government was retained until 1891 
when it was incorporated as a city, its largely increased 
population and growing interests, making it unadvis- 
able to longer continue as a town. The population of 
the city is now about 25,000 and there is no more 
thrifty, enterprising or better regulated citv in the 
Commonwealth. 

The men who fixed upon the site of Pittsfield, were 
singularly happy in their choice, and posterity must 
give them the credit of having been wise and tasteful 
in their day and generation. They came into the wil- 
derness and builded their first rough dwelling in as 

(8) 



lovely a spot as can be found in all this broad land. A 
plain, encompassed by tbe bills ; a natural amphithea- 
tre, its surface gemmed with crystal lakes, that in 
brief, describes tbe site of Pittsfield. 



A VIEW OF THE CITY 



No better way in which to begin sight seeing in 
Pittsfield can be suggested, than that of viewing it 
first from an elevation. Access may easily be gained, 
by means of the elevators, to the roof of the Berkshire 
Life Insurance Company's building, the Hotel Wen- 
dell or the Berkshire County Savings Bank building, 
and eitber of these points of vantage afford views of 
the city's surroundings at once interesting and inspir- 
ing. To the west will be seen the Taconic range of 
mountains with Perry's Peak in Richmond and Potter 
mountain to the north ; off to the south. South moun- 
tain and its range ; to the east Washington mountain 
stands guard, while to the north the foot hills rise to 
Greylock, the grandest of them all. It is an inspira- 
tion to look about the city from any one of these high 
places and the view is also helpful as it gives one an 
excellent idea of "the lay of the land." There are six 
lakes either wholly or in part within the city limits and 
on either side, the east and west, are the branches of 
the Housatonic river which flow together near the 
southern border line. There are many high places 
where fine views of the lakes are afforded and these 
will be referred to later. 

< in i 



THE PARK ... 




Almost directly in the center of the city lies 
"The Park," a small oval shaped tract, 
sodded and curbed, and shaded by fine old 
elms. Back in the early days when Pitts- 
field was a straggling hamlet, the Park was 
an open space over which, it is presumed, 
the village cows grazed contentedly. It re- 
mained in its natural state until about 1812. 
In those days its most prominent feature 
was the "old elm," a magnificent specimen 
of its kind, which stood near the center of the present 
park, ft was 120 feet high and 90 feet to the first limb. 
This tree became historic and in its shade much tran- 
spired which has helped to make Pittsfield's history 
notable. In 1809 there was held here a display of a few 
cattle and this was the beginning of the "cattle show." 
The old Berkshire Agricultural Society which had its 
inception at that time, existed until 1901, when, because 
of lack of public interest, it was deemed wise to wind 
up its a hairs. In 1825 the old elm looked down upon 
the great ovation given to General Lafayette, who vis- 
ited the town and was received with great pomp and 
ceremony. The old tree stood until 1864, and when, 
becoming unsafe, it was cut down, the people of the 
town mourned it as an old friend. A computation of 
its age, m\ade from the annual rings, indicated that 
the tree was 340 years old, but the accuracy of the 
estimate is doubted. That its age was great, however, 

(12) 



is certain, for when the first settlers came in 1743 it was 
already a tree of mature growth. The site of the old elm 
is now marked by a sun dial, erected in the summer of 
1903 by Peace Party Chapter, Daughters of the Amer- 
ican Revolution. The dial occupies a position a little 
removed from where the tree stood. The base is two 
feet and ten inches across and six inches thick. The shaft 
is octagonal in shape, two feet nine inches in height. 
The dial itself is 13 inches across, circular in shape, 
and five-sixteenths of an inch thick. The dial is of 
brass, and the base and shaft were hewn from Ver- 
mont marble. The figures upon the outer edge of the 
dial are black, and the inscription, also in black char- 
acters, reads as follows : 

Let others tell of storm and showers, 
I'll only mark your sunny hours. 

On a brass plate at the base of the dial is the 
equation of time, while another brass plate bears these 
words: "Site of the historic elm of Pittsfield. Erected 
by Peace Party Chapter, Daughters of the American 
Revolution, July 25, 1864; June 23, 1903." These 
dates indicate the time of the hewing down of the tree 
and the date of dedication. On the dial is the insignia 
of Peace Party Chapter. 

At the western end of the park stands the Soldiers' 
monument. The figure of the "Color Sergeant" which 
surmounts it, is the work of Launt Thompson, and 
there are few more beautiful bronzes in the country. 
The Park is not only the geographical center of the 
city, but it is also the center of its life and its traditions. 

(14) 



Many stirring- scenes have been enacted here and it has 
come to be looked upon as almost sacred ground, by 
the people of Pittsfield. 



AROUXD THE PARK . .. 

The Park is almost entirely surrounded by public 
buildings, some of them of much historic interest. To 
the north stands the Berkshire County Savings Bank 
building, a handsome modern structure, occupied en- 
tirely as an office building. Next east is the fine old 
grey stone edifice of the First Congregational church, 
which society has been closely identified with Pitts- 
field's history from the very first. The early pastor of 
the church was the famous "fighting parson," Rev 
Thomas Allen, who led the patriotic men of Berkshire 
to the aid of Gen. Stark in the battle of Bennington. 
Dr. John Todd, a renowned preacher, writer and 
scholar, was long its pastor and on its records are 
scores of names which have been prominent in state 
and national history. The venerable structure next 
east, is the former town hall, now enlarged and digni- 
fied into the home of the city government. This building 
has been the scene of many famous and stirring- eath- 
enngs and in it was formerly to be seen a most impres- 
sive exemplification of the old "Town meeting" idea. 
Its walls have echoed to the eloquence of such men as 
the late Hon. Henry L. Dawes, the late Governor 
Briggs and many others who have been prominently 
identified with the affairs of state and nation. Next 
east of the City Hall stands St. Stephen's Episcopal 

(16) 



church, a brown stone edifice of much architectural 
beauty, located almost exactly upon the site of the so- 
ciety's original church building-. 

Across the Park to the south, stands the Court 
house, constructed of white marble from Sheffield, in 
the south part of the county. It is surrounded by 
broad lawns shaded by fine old elms and is among the 
more prominent of the public buildings of the city. To 
the west of the Court house stands the Athenaeum, a 
handsome building of native blue stone, the home of 
the public library and museum. This building was pre- 
sented to Pittsfield by the late Hon. Thomas Allen, a 
grandson of Parson Allen, and a few years ago was 
greatly enlarged and improved. The library contains 
something like 50,000 volumes, free to the use of the 
inhabitants of Pittsfield. There is a fine art gallerv and 
an interesting museum in the building well worth an 
hour of the visitor's time. 



THI- MAIX STREETS . .. 

Pittsfield's principal avenues. North, South, East 
and West streets, all diverge from the Park and are 
broad, straight, handsome avenues, each extending in 
the direction indicated by its name. South streets runs 
almost due south for half a mile without a change in its 
straight lines and a more beautiful street can hardly 
be imagined. The roadway is broad and is bordered 
on eithei side with turf extending from curb to walk. 
On both sides of the walks are rows of elms or maples 
whose dense foliage casts grateful shade and the effect 

(18) 



in summer is charming. This street for the most part 
is occupied by private residences, among the finest be- 
ing those of Dr. Frank West, Arthur W. Eaton, W. 
E. Tillotson, Charles E. West and Mrs. Thomas P. 
Pingrec. The public buildings on the street are the 
South Congregational church, the Museum of Natural 
History and Art and the Berkshire County Home for 
Aged \\ omen, all of which stand about a block below 
the Park. The Museum, just referred to, is a new in- 
stitution, the gift of Hon. Zenas Crane of DaltOn and 
is designed for the benefit of Berkshire County. The 
building- is a beautiful one and an exceedingly fine col- 
lection of specimens was placed in it by the donor. 
The collection has been materially increased by valu- 
able contributions from various sources. It is open to 
the public at certain hours each day. A short distance 
south of the Museum stands Pittsfield's fine new 
theatre "The Colonial," erected and opened in 1903. 
Further on, something like a mile and a half from the 
Park, stands "Broad Hall" now the property of The 
Country Club of Pittsfield, known to many as the Mel- 
ville place, and during later years, as the Morewood 
place. The house was built in 1781, twenty years after 
the incorporation of the town, by Henry Van Schaack 
and during its subsequent history as a boarding house, 
numbered among its guests Longfellow, Hawthorne, 
Herman Melville, President Tyler and many others of 
prominence. Count Llewenhaupt, the then Danish 
minister, occupied the house some years ago as a sum- 
mer residence and entertained there many foreign no- 
tables. The property was purchased by the Country 
Club in 1900, and has been very greatly improved. The 

(20) 



old house has been changed, entirely refitted and con- 
verted into a convenient and attractive club house. 
The grounds have been cleared, a line golf course has 
been laid out and provision has been made for acquatic 
sports on the beautiful little lake which lies within the 
property. To the southeast of Broad Hall, is "Arrow- 
head," the Melville estate, and it has its sure claim to 
distinction in the fact that here lived Herman Mel- 
ville. While living at "Arrowhead" Melville wrote 
many of his best works, among them being "Moby 
Dick," "My Chimney and I," the "Piazza Tales," and 
"October Mountain." The main road extends nearly 
due south and leads direct to Lenox, and the ride is 
one of the most delightful in all Berkshire. Large ap- 
propriations for the improvement of this highway have 
been made by the State, the City of Pittsfield and the 
Town of Lenox. The road is to be macadamized its 
entire length and a considerable portion of the w r ork 
will be done this year. 

North street, which leads north from The Park, is 
the main business street of Pittsfield. It is a very wide 
street, paved with asphalt, traversed by the street rail- 
way lines and lined on either side with many fine busi- 
ness blocks. The buildings of the Berkshire Life In- 
surance Company and the Berkshire County Savings 
Bank, face each other at the lower end of the street 
and are of much architectural beauty. Central block, 
the two England buildings, Wollison's block, the 
Academy of Music, the Hull & Morton building, the 
Wright block, the Merrill and Mills blocks and the 
Melville building are among the modern and preten- 
tious business structures on the street. At the corner of 

(22) 



School street, opposite Central block, stands the First 
Baptist church. School street leads to Allen avenue 
where is located the Central Station or headquarters of 
the fire department. It is a handsome and substantial 
brick building and the greater part of the fire apparatus 
is housed here. Police headquarters are at the corner 
of School street and Allen avenue. Farther up North 
street is the line property of St. Joseph's Catholic 
church, including the church edifice, parsonage, Con- 
vent and Parochial school. Just opposite this property 
stands the modest little frame edifice of Unitv church. 



A FAMOUS BUILDING .. 



A short distance north of these churches stands 
Maplewood, one of the noted and popular summer 
hotels of the Berkshire Hills. The buildings are front- 
ed by a spacious lawn shaded with elm trees and the 
spot is a most inviting one. It was formerly occupied 
as a Cantonment. In the rear of Maplewood and 
connected with it, is a building of great historical in- 
terest, it being what was formerly the old First 
church, and bears the distinction of having been de- 
signed by Charles Bulfinch, the famous architect, who 
designed the old State Mouse at Boston. It is an ex- 
cellent example of the old time church edifice, although 
the steeple has been reduced to small proportions. It 
is used as a gymnasium and dancing hall by the hotel 
guests. This structure was begun in 1780. finished in 
1783, and served the purposes of the First church peo- 
ple until 1851. 

I 24 ) 




i . 



The upper end of the street before the junction at 
Wahconah street, is occupied largely by dwelling- 
houses. Farther north, after passing the Wahconah 
street junction, is the new House of Mercy hospital. 
This hue modern structure is the outgrowth of the 
modest cottage in which the House of Mercy began its 
work some thirty years ago. The new building is of 
brick, of a plain but pleasing type of architecture and 
has ample accommodations for the ever increasing de- 
mands made upon the institution. The Pittsfield House 
of Mercy is one of the most successful institutions of 
its kind in the United States. Just opposite the new 
building, stands the Henry \Y. Bishop 3d Memorial 
Training School for Nurses, a gift to the House of 
Mercy by Henry \V. Bishop of Chicago as a memorial 
to his son. The school is one of the best in existence 
and its graduates are recognized everywhere as being 
admirably qualified in all ways for their profession. 
North street leads on over the hill for about a mile, 
where it again joins Wahconah street, leading direct to 
Pontoosuc lake. 

East street, leading east from the Park, is, like 
South street, given up to residential purposes. It is 
the widest of all of Pittsfield's wide streets ; is shaded 
by grand elms, and is one of the finest streets in the 
county. The large stone house near the Park, to the 
left, is "Eagle's Nest," the residence of the late Hon. 
Thomas Allen. Just opposite is the St. Stephen's rec- 
tory, formerly the residence of Edward S. Newton, and 
a fine specimen of old colonial architecture. Next, to 
the east is the fine mansion of Bishop Worthington, 
of Nebraska, which was erected by Hon. Henrv W. 

(26) 




MAJNKETT HOMESTEAD, EAST STREET, 



Bishop, already referred to as the donor of the Train- 
ing school building' of the House of Mercy. Among 
the fine old houses which line the street, is "Elm 
Knoll," the Plunkett homestead, formerly the summer 
residence of Hon. Nathan Appleton, of Boston. In 
this house, Longfellow, Mr. Appleton's son-in-law, 
wrote '"The Old Clock on the Stairs." Just west of 
the Plunkett home, is the Kellogg homestead, as fine 
a specimen of the old English home as can be found 
in the state. East street divides into Elm and Beaver 
streets and on Elm street is the former home of the late 
Hon. Henry L. Dawes, ex-senator of Massachusetts. 
Elm street leads to "Grey Tower," the former residence 
of the Pollock family, and in the neighborhood of 
which a fine residential section is growing- up. 



OT ABLE HOMES .. . 

West street is given up largely to business purpos- 
es as far west as the railroad, but beyond that its char- 
acter changes and one finds many fine residences along 
the elm-shaded road. The former residence of the 
late Governor Briggs stands a short distance beyond 
the railroad. Partner on is the Learned place, and be- 
yond that still, high up on a wooded bluff on the east 
shore of Onota lake, is the H. C. Valentine place, as 
picturesquely located as any home in Berkshire. On 
the southwest shore of Onota lake is "Fort Hill," the 
home of Mrs. Howard B. Daniels. The house, which 
is pure colonial in design, stands upon the exact site 
of one of the old forts or block-houses erected for the 

(28) 



protection of the early settlers against the Indians. 
There were several of these forts within what was 
called "The Plantation of Pontoosuck" and this was 
named Fort Ashley. It was a substantial structure, 
located in the center of that portion of the old town, 
and was garrisoned by troops supported by the state. 
Near the house there stands to this day an apple tree 
which stood at the southwest corner of the old fort. 
Just back of the house, in Quota lake, there is a small 
island, which, before the lake was raised, was a penin- 
sula, known as Indian Point. It was so named from 
an incident in the early history of the settlement, an 
Indian having" been killed there by a settler who fired 
at random in reply to a shot fired at him from the 
point. The Walker place, "Blythwood," lies just to 
the west of Quota lake, and is one of the most striking 
summer residences in Berkshire. 

Leading out of North street, just north of the Bap- 
tist church is Fenn street, another business street, and 
on this street is located the Methodist church, one of 
the handsomest church edifices in the western part of 
the state. 

In the southeast portion of the city, easily reached 
by driving or by trolley, are many handsome resi- 
dences, most of them owned by people who occupy 
them only during the summer months. On Dawes 
avenue are the new homes of Henry W. Bishop and 
John W. Thomson, both of colonial design. On this 
avenue is also the handsome summer home of Max 
Butler of New York. Dawes avenue has its eastern 
terminus at Holmes road, a picturesque highway which 
takes its names from Oliver Wendell Holmes who at 

(30) 



one time lived here. Turning- to the south on Holmes 
road, one soon reaches the Sampson place at the corner 
of William street, a remarkably hue example of colonial 
architecture. Beyond this, after crossing the east branch 
of the Housatonic river, is the spacious home of Col. 
Walter Cutting located to the right. Nearly opposite 
Col. Cutting's home, is "Holmesdale," formerly the res- 
idence of Oliver Wendell Holmes, now owned and oc- 
cupied during the summer months by Mr. and Mrs. 
William Pollock. It is a charming old place, with well 
kept grounds, one of the most interesting in Central 
Berkshire. 



THE LAKHS 



The lakes in the immediate vicinity, constitute 
one of Pittsfield's greatest attractions, the finest being 
Onota and Bontoosuc. Onota lies some two miles 
west of the city and is the largest as well as one of the 
most beautiful bodies of water in the county. Its 
shores afford charming views, particularly the south- 
western shore where there were fortifications in the 
daws of the French and Indian war. The lake lies in 
an upland basin and contains, since its enlargement in 
1864, 683 acres. Before that time, it was really two 
independent lakes, the smaller one to the northwest 
being formed by a dam or causeway thrown up by 
beavers. The west shore of the lake was a wall of 
boulders and pebbles thrown up by the action of the 
ice. On the east shore is Burbank Park, a considerable 
tract owned by the city, but as yet unimproved. It is 

(32) 



the only portion of the shore open to the public, the 
balance being- owned by private individuals. A beau- 
tiful drive extending from Peek's road, leads along the 
east shore of the lake to this park. It is expected that 
the park will be made accessible very soon, by the con- 
struction of a street railway. ( )ne of the most favorable 
and popular views of Onota, is that obtained from 
West street opposite the south end of the lake. 

At the northern boundary line of the city, is Pon- 
tosuc lake, a beautiful sheet of water lying in a nat- 
ural basin. It was enlarged in 1867 to its present area 
of 575 acres. The highway from Pittsfield extends 
along the eastern border of the lake and a trolley line 
leads past the lake and extends through Lanesboro 
Cheshire, Adams and North Adams to Williamstown. 
On the southern shore is a fine grove open to the pub- 
lic and beyond to the west are a number of private cot- 
tages. This spot is known as "Honosada Shore," and 
during the summer months the cottages are occupied 
continuously. The grove is a favorite spot and is 
largely resorted to by pleasure seekers. Fronn this 
shore there is a charming view to the north taking in 
the hills of Lanesboro, Constitution hill and Grevlock, 
while to the west are to be seen the peaks of the Ta- 
conic range. Gunn's grove at the north end and Ho- 
decker's on the west shore are also popular spots for 
picnic and camping parties. On the east shore at the 
''Point of Pines" stands the fine modern home of the 
Pittsfield Boat Club. This organization has a large 
membership and its club house is headquarters for 
acquatic sports. The club owns a large number of 
boats and during the summer months conducts eve- 

(34) 



ning carnivals which attract great numbers of people to 
the lake. Visitors find facilities of all kinds at Pon- 
toosuc, and a more delightful spot for an outing can- 
not be found in all Berkshire. 

Richmond lake formerly lay about equally in the 
towns of Richmond and Pittsfield and on the old maps 
was designated as "South Pond." It was originally 
about ninety-eight acres in extent and nearly circular 
in form. In 1865 it was enlarged to two hundred and 
fiftv acres and its form was matrially altered. Rich- 
mond lake is a very popular fishing ground. In the 
east-central part of the city, lies Silver lake and it is 
one of the first objects seen by people coming from the 
east on the Boston and Albany road. It covers about 
sixty acres. About a mile east of Silver lake, in a se- 
cluded spot, is Goodrich Pond, covering some thirty 
acres. It was formerly known by the much prettier 
title of Sylvan lake, a name entirely appropriate. With- 
in the grounds of the Country Club, already referred 
to, lies Morewood lake, formerly called Melville lake 
and also known by the names of various other owners 
of the property. On the maps, it was long designated 
as Lilly Bowl, a rather fanciful but none the less de- 
scriptive title. None of Berkshire's many lakes is 
more charming in contour and surroundings. Over 
in New York state, some nine miles west of Pittsfield, 
will be found Queechy lake, a very beautiful body of 
water and one much resorted to by pleasure seekers. 



(36) 



POINTS OF INTEREST .. . 

There are numerous places of interest in and about 
Pittsfield and the delightful drives are endless. A 
pamphlet entitled "Drives and Walks of Pittsfield," 
issued by the Berkshire Life Insurance Company, is an 
admirable guide to the visitor as it gives minute direc- 
tions and descriptions of the interesting walks and 
drives in all directions. 

Visitors will be interested in visiting Dalton, six 
miles east, where is located the Government mill. Here 
the distinctive paper is made, upon which the United 
States government prints its greenbacks and bonds. 
Dalton is a very charming town and here are the homes 
of the Crane families, including that of W. Murray 
Crane, the former governor of Massachusetts. The 
paper mills of the Cranes and of the Byron Weston 
Paper Company produce writing and ledger papers 
respectively and the product is of the highest grade. 

To the northeast of Pittsfield. reached by a very 
pleasant drive, will be found the famous Balanced 
Rock, Berkshire's greatest natural curiosity. It is a 
mass of white marble, its surface stained by the ele- 
ments to a grey hue and weighing many tons. It is 
rudely oval in shape and so evenly balanced on a pivot 
of a few inches, that, although, by the aid of a lever 
it may be made to slightly oscillate, no force yet applied 
has been able to overturn it. A noted geologist gives 
it as his opinion, that the boulder was deposited by 
fields of ice several thousand feet thick, slowly orind- 
ing over the ancient surface of the vallev. 

( 38 ) 



In this neighborhood, easily reached by a fairly 
good road, is Lulu Cascade, a charming spot for an 
outing and one of the choicest bits of scenery in all 
Berkshire. A silvery column of water falls fifteen 
feet over dark rocks into a broad black pool, over 
which hangs a huge grey boulder. Below is a ravine 
shaded with trees and rocks, through which ripples 
the brook. Following the wood-road which leads from 
the southern bank of the brook, for perhaps a mile, 
and climbing a hill to the left, one comes to Berry 
Pond, well termed, "the gem of mountain lakelets." 
Berry Pond and Lulu Cascade ought surely to be in- 
cluded in the program of summer excursions in Berk- 
shire. 



PERRY'S PEAK .. . 

Lying within the town of Richmond, a few miles 
to the southwest from Pittsfield, is Perry's Peak, the 
highest summit of one of the largest mountain masses 
in the Taconic range. Its summit is 2,080 feet above 
tide water and is entirely bare of trees. The peak 
affords some of the broadest, grandest and most pictur- 
esque views to be witnessed from any point in Berk- 
shire, extending to Greylock on the north, Mount 
Washington on the south, the Catskills on the west and 
the Hoosacks on the east. At the western foot of the 
mountain, lies Queechy lake, while Richmond Lake is 
in plain view to the east. 

There is a peak just to the south of the city, an 
easy walk for the pedestrian and readily accessible by 

1 10) 



trolley, to all, from which may be obtained the most 
delightful views of Pittsfield to be found anywhere 
in the region. It is called South Mountain and there 
is an excellent road of an easy grade extending to the 
summit. Here there is a clearing, a charming spot 
for a picnic, and from this point, the eye commands 
almost the full sweep of the amphitheatre in which 
Pittsfield lies. 

Going to the north into Lanesboro, one may easily 
reach the summit of Constitution Hill, the most en- 
trancing spot to be found for miles around. The 
summit of the hill is bare of trees but for one which 
stands sentinel like in the center of the clearing. Sit- 
ting in its shade, one may see the full range of the 
hills as they rise gradually to the king of them all, 
Greylock, and to the south may look down across the 
valley, the view embracing both Pontoosuc and Onota 
lakes. On the western side of the hill, there is an in- 
teresting cave, not difficult to find and worthy a visit. 

Greylock, just alluded to as the king of them all, 
lifts itself high above all Massachusetts and from the 
summit of its peak, more than 3,500 feet above sea 
level, the view is surpassingly grand. There is nothing 
to break the view in all directions for miles around, 
Berkshire's hills and valleys lie before you spread out 
in an impressive panorama, while beyond lies 
New York, thrusting up her majestic Catskills, Ver- 
mont putting forth her Green Mountains and Connecti- 
cut whose hills are, more than anything else, a portion 
of the Berkshire ranges. Greylock is easily reached by 
a recently constructed road from Pittsfield through 
Lanesboro, or one may go to North Adams and drive 

(42) 



to the summit by an excellent road. One way or the 
other, the trip should not be missed, for Berkshire has 
nothing finer, nothing - more impressive or inspiring, 
than Grevlock. 



THE TORY'S CAVE 



Down at New Lenox, but a few miles south of 
Pittsfield, there is an interesting cave, known as The 
Tory's Cave. It is a rude place of two chambers, 
built of overlapping flint rocks and has nothing at all 
poetic in its environment. A great many years ago 
when tories were unpopular, one of them, Gideon Smith 
by name, spent several weeks in hiding in this cave, 
hence its name. The waters of Roaring brook tumble 
over the rough rocks just in front of the cave and the 
place is one of wild beauty. Time has changed the 
appearance of the cave considerably but there is still 
enough of the original formation left to make it 
interesting. 

Two places to the east of the city must be included 
in the list of points of interest. Wizard's Glen and 
"Wahconah Falls. The former, sometimes called The 
Gulf, is reached by a four miles drive from Pittsfield 
towards Dalton and is the wildest spot in the imme- 
diate vicinity. One writer describes the Glen as fol- 
lows : — "A narrow valley is enclosed by steep hills, 
covered far up their sides with the huge rectangular 
flint rocks which mark the whole mountain range. 
You see them scattered everywhere, from Grevlock to 
Taghconic ; but nowhere else — unless, perhaps, at Icy 

(44) 



. . 




■ ..■■■■■ ' ■■- . .. 





Glen or Monument Mountain — piled in such mag- 
nificent and chaotic profusion. * * * * Block lies 
heaped on block, squared and bevelled, as if by more 
than mortal art ; for of such adamantine hardness are 
they, that never hand nor implement of man could 
carve them into symmetry." It is indeed a stern faced 
place, but it has its sure charm and there is no more 
delightful retreat on a summer afternoon. 

A fine drive through Dalton and out on the Wind- 
sor road brings one to Wahconah Falls. The waters 
of the brook descend through a narrow gorge, racing 
over dark grey rocks and at the "Falls," drop by two 
or three leaps, something like seventy feet. The fall 
is sufficient to whip the water into white foam and 
there is an indefinable fascination about the spot. 
There are unusually complete accommodations for 
outing parties, provided by the owners of the prop- 
erty, the Messrs. Crane of Dalton, and the day passed 
at Wahconah Falls will not be forgotten, no matter 
how many pleasant memories are stored away by a 
season in the Berkshires. 

Out in Richmond, just beyond Stevens Corners, 
will be found Stevens Glen, a place worthy of a visit 
by people interested in freaks of nature, as this glen 
is assuredly a freak spot. The owner charges a small 
fee for admission to the glen, but the facilities for 
seeing it, which he has provided, make it worth the 
price. 

The new state road running to the west over Leb- 
anon mountain is one of the most attractive drives in 
this part of the state. It is known as the Interstate 

(46) 



road, Massachusetts and New York having joined in 
its construction, and commands a view of Lebanon 
valley which is unsurpassed. 

Pittsfield is the center of a comprehensive system of 
street railways running- in all directions, which give fre- 
quent connection with the various towns up and down 
the vallev, thus bringing- within easy access a great 
many points of interest. The roads about Pittsfield 
afford fine wheeling and the county is visited annually 
bv hundreds of touring wheelmen and automobilists. 




WAV 29 19C5 



PU 18 i 









-£> 






^p v ^ 












^CV 



4 Pa 




r oV 




H^ 










,0° 
















O M 

O 





<y 




c ♦' 



^ ^ 



s°* 



19 










« 



r o 






x/ 



DOBBS BROS. 

LIBRARY BINDING 



ST. AUGUSTINE 

^gl^FLA. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



III 




012 608 758 5 




